The Human Skills Podcast

What if the most powerful trainers aren’t the ones who know the most—but the ones who know how to reach people?

In this episode of Human Skills Training, Chris sits down with Candice Storer, a trainer-of-trainers in Kentucky whose winding career—from babysitter to therapeutic parenting specialist to mental-health interventionist—prepared her for a role that didn’t technically exist until she stepped into it. Together, they explore how early experiences, trust-building, and authentic connection shape the quality of training that educators receive—and ultimately, the care children experience every day.

Candice shares the lessons she learned working with families in crisis, supporting children with adverse experiences, coordinating therapeutic teams, and guiding new trainers who often feel overwhelmed, reluctant, or “voluntold” into leadership. Through her stories, she reveals a simple truth: adults learn best when they feel seen, safe, and engaged—and trainers are most effective when they teach less, go deeper, and show up as their real selves.

This conversation reframes professional development not as presentations or PowerPoints, but as human connection that ripples into classrooms, families, and communities.

💡 Key Takeaways:
✅ Why trust—not content—is the foundation of great training
✅ How to support resistant, nervous, or brand-new trainers
✅ Why “teaching less” often results in more meaningful learning
✅ How childhood adversity shapes behavior and the role of trauma-aware teaching
✅ The difference between knowledge dumping and transformational training
✅ How AI can support creativity without replacing human skill
✅ Why authenticity matters more than perfection in adult learning
✅ What motivates trainers to stay committed in a changing world

If you’ve ever trained educators, led teams, or wondered how to make learning actually stick—this episode will give you a whole new lens.

Chapters:
00:00 – Welcome & meeting Candice Storer
03:40 – A winding path through early childhood and mental-health work
12:00 – Lessons from therapeutic parenting and family intervention
20:14 – How adversity shapes behavior & why trust comes first
27:22 – Becoming a trainer-of-trainers & supporting reluctant leaders
34:58 – “Teach less”: how adults really learn
43:40 – Technology, AI, and modern training challenges
52:10 – What keeps Candice motivated across decades of change

What if the key to becoming a better educator, writer, or leader isn’t finding the perfect path—but learning how to trust your own curiosity?

In this inspiring episode of Human Skills Training, Chris sits down with award-winning teacher–turned-entrepreneur Melissa Taylor to explore how identity, creativity, and emotional resilience shape the way we learn and work. Melissa shares her unconventional journey from the classroom to building Imagination Soup, a six-figure book-review and literacy platform, and how she used her strengths, intuition, and “brain candy” approach to create a career aligned with her values.

Together, they dive into the emotional side of reading, the power of choice in literacy, why teaching is an art (not a script), and how embracing the beginner mindset—sometimes literally getting dragged by a horse—can transform our confidence and brain.

This conversation reframes literacy not as an academic skill, but as a human experience that builds empathy, attention, reflection, and identity. It’s a reminder that stories don’t just develop readers—they develop people.

💡 Key Takeaways:
✅ Why knowing your why is essential for navigating big life and career pivots
✅ How reading changes the brain, strengthens empathy, and shapes identity
✅ Why literacy choice matters more than “the right book”
✅ How reflection deepens learning—for kids and adults
✅ Why teaching is an art, and prescriptive curriculums miss what matters
✅ How starting as a beginner strengthens confidence and neuroplasticity
✅ The surprising overlap between publishing, entrepreneurship, and the classroom
✅ Why attention is declining—and what we can do about it

If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure of your next chapter—this episode will remind you that there is always room to reinvent, realign, and keep moving forward.

Chapters:
00:00 – Welcome & meeting Melissa Taylor
03:40 – Leaving teaching & discovering strengths through entrepreneurship
06:09 – Holding onto purpose: knowing your why through big pivots
07:47 – Reading 200 books a month & how Melissa curates for kids
12:00 – Why book choice matters: building identity through reading
16:48 – What teacher prep programs don’t teach—and what new educators need
20:14 – Growth mindset, being a beginner & the emotional side of learning
27:22 – How reading builds empathy, attention, and lifelong reflection

What if the biggest breakthroughs in education don’t come from new curricula—but from understanding the emotions that drive everything we do?

In this unique episode of Human Skills Training, the script flips: researcher and educator Megan McDaniel interviews host Chris Danilo about the unconventional path that shaped his philosophy on learning, leadership, and the emotional side of human behavior. Together, they trace Chris’s journey—from neuroscientist-in-training to early childhood facilitator—and uncover why he walked away from academia to focus on what truly moves people: connection, emotion, and real-world change.

You’ll hear how an early love of philosophy evolved into studying the brain, why “fun” is a scientifically powerful learning tool, and how emotional awareness can transform classrooms, teams, and entire school cultures. This conversation reframes professional development not as content delivery, but as human experience—something felt, shared, and carried forward.

💡 Key Takeaways:
✅ Why fun is a neurological gateway to trust, motivation, and deep learning.
✅ How Chris’s “spaghetti career path” led him to bridge research and real-world practice.
✅ The hidden emotional barriers that shape educator behavior (and how to spot them).
✅ Why PD fails when it ignores human connection, and what great facilitation actually requires.
✅ How emotions act as a “radar system” guiding decisions, leadership, and classroom behavior.
✅ The difference between building policy and building culture—and why one creates bureaucracy while the other creates belonging.
✅ What it would look like if educators, leaders, and children learned emotional intelligence together.

If you’ve ever felt like traditional PD misses the heart of the work—or wondered how emotions, neuroscience, and leadership fit together—this episode will shift how you think about teaching, learning, and what it means to truly support educators.

Chapters:
00:00 – Welcome & Meg takes over hosting
04:07 – Curiosity, fun, and why Chris works the way he does
08:31 – From philosophy to neuroscience: Chris’s “spaghetti path.”
16:11 – Leaving academia to close the research-to-practice gap
22:18 – Why PD fails: the barriers educators face
30:20 – Connection, trust, and the first 90 seconds of learning
35:12 – Emotional radar: why feelings drive all behavior 
49:58 – The future of educator support & Chris’s mission

What if every “bad behavior” is actually a message—and we’ve just been reading it wrong?

In this episode of Human Skills Training, Chris Danilo speaks with Dr. Meg McDoniel, early childhood researcher and policy expert, about the hidden psychology behind how kids learn, grow, and connect. Together, they uncover how early experiences shape brain development, self-regulation, and relationships—and what adults can do to help children thrive.

Meg brings a rare mix of classroom experience and research insight, showing that understanding behavior starts with empathy and curiosity, not correction. From trauma and temperament to teacher wellbeing, this episode reframes childhood not as a series of problems to fix, but as a conversation waiting to be understood.

💡 Key Takeaways:

✅ Why behavior is communication—and how to “decode” what kids are really saying
✅ How temperament and environment shape learning and emotional growth
✅ What research on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) teaches us about resilience
✅ The link between teacher wellbeing and healthy classroom dynamics
✅ Simple ways to build trust, safety, and connection with every child
✅ Why empathy and patience are the most powerful teaching tools you have

If you’ve ever wondered why a child behaves a certain way, this episode will change how you see—and respond to—them.

Chapters:

00:00 – Welcome & Meg’s background
03:10 – From classroom to research
06:45 – The roots of childhood behavior
12:40 – Temperament and social-emotional learning
20:15 – The impact of early experiences (ACEs)
29:20 – Supporting teacher and student wellbeing
37:40 – Reframing behavior through empathy
46:30 – What gives Meg hope for the future

What if the “problem” in your classroom isn’t the student—but the story you’re telling yourself about their behavior?

In this powerful episode of Human Skills Training, early childhood expert Michelle Farrell joins host Chris Danilo to unpack what’s really happening when kids “act out.” Drawing on her decades of experience as a teacher, director, and Pyramid Model-certified trainer, Michelle shares practical ways to turn moments of frustration into opportunities for connection and growth.

You’ll learn how to replace power struggles with curiosity, decode the root causes of behavior, and build team cultures that support both educators and students.

💡 Key Takeaways:

✅ Why kids aren’t “giving you a hard time”—they’re having a hard time
✅ The educator behaviors that unintentionally make things worse
✅ How to stay calm and respond instead of reacting
✅ What strong team culture looks like (and what red flags to watch for)
✅ How empathy and curiosity transform classroom behavior
✅ One mindset shift that makes every educator more effective

If you’ve ever felt stuck managing challenging behaviors, this episode will remind you: the right skills aren’t just classroom strategies—they’re human skills.

What if your team’s success had less to do with strategy—and everything to do with how people feel when they work with you?

In this episode of Human Skills Training, Chris Danilo sits down with Ellen Will from Shaver’s Creek Outdoor School to explore what authentic leadership really looks like in action. Together, they unpack how small, intentional habits—like “connection before content” and “feed-forward” feedback—can completely transform team culture.

Ellen shares the mindset shifts that helped her create an environment where people feel seen, valued, and safe enough to bring their best ideas forward. From handling resistance to nurturing psychological safety, her approach shows that great leadership isn’t about control—it’s about cultivating trust.

If you’ve ever wondered why your team isn’t clicking, or how to build a culture people want to be part of, this conversation is your roadmap.

💡 Key Takeaways:

✅ Why “connection before content” changes everything about how teams learn and collaborate
✅ The Feed-Forward mindset: turning feedback into fuel for growth
✅ How to build psychological safety that sparks innovation
✅ The art of accountability with empathy
✅ The power of small rituals and language in shaping culture
✅ Why great leadership starts with curiosity, not control

What’s one small habit that’s changed the way you lead? 👇 Share it in the comments!

What if the key to better leadership and classroom culture isn’t another strategy—but learning how to manage our own emotions first?

In this episode of Human Skills Training, Chris Danilo talks with Dr. Alicia Grandey, professor at Penn State and co-author of “Emotion at Work”, about how neuroscience and emotional regulation can transform the way we lead, teach, and connect.

Alicia shares decades of research and real-world tools that help educators and leaders navigate tough moments with authenticity instead of burnout. From her DAIR framework to her insights on surface acting, she explains how to recognize, regulate, and respond to emotions in ways that build trust instead of tension.

Whether you lead a classroom or a company, this conversation will change how you think about self-care, resilience, and the emotional labor behind effective leadership.

💡 Key Takeaways:

✅ How the DAIR framework helps you manage emotionally charged moments
✅ Why “fake it till you make it” can backfire—and what authentic professionalism really looks like
✅ The connection between rest, emotion regulation, and creativity
✅ Simple, science-backed tools (like breathing and reframing) that calm your nervous system in seconds
✅ Why skipping straight to “positivity” destroys trust and authenticity
✅ How to set healthy boundaries between compassion and accountability
✅ The truth about “surface acting” and the hidden cost of emotional labor

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, overextended, or emotionally drained at work—this one’s for you.

👇 What’s one emotional regulation tool that actually works for you? Share it in the comments!